Further Delay To The Accounts Is Sheer Madness

EURIPIDES had a point, if he did indeed come up with: “Those whom the Gods would destroy – they first make mad.”

If the old Athenian dramatist was around today, he might well be chronicling the tragedies of the Scottish Rugby Union's Junta. The latest of these came at Friday tea time, when, whichever of the elves was charged with locking-up at BT Murrayfield, while the big important people were off in Florence, gazing at Michelangelo's David and the other touristy must-sees, put out that shameful club communication which told us – the accounts have been delayed again – until DECEMBER.

American humorist Will Rogers often gets the credit for another aphorism I would today direct towards The Junta: “When you're in a hole, stop digging.”

TCD and his loyal side-kick Howzat have been in a hole, ever since they apparently conspired to be rid of “a turbulent priest” named Keith Russell. However, emboldened by a supine Council, they have continued to dig. Now, we have the current situation, whereby the accounts are so late in being revealed, the conspiracy theorists are having a ball.

According to the SRU bye laws, the books should have been opened within four months of the end of May. OK, given the double whammy of prolonged illness on the part of Finance Director Andrew Healy, who I wish a speedy recovery, as I understand he is again off work with illness, plus the Covid-19 pandemic, the SRU have been granted a degree of licence in when they open the books to the membership. But, with the further delay, which they sneaked out on Friday, I can only assume, The Junta is having a further larf at the clubs' expense.

The delay, since May, has been unacceptable. This latest hold up is Totally defenceless. Surely there has to be a way by which we can get them available.

Instead – we got the following weasel words, in a statement sent out to clubs on Friday evening:

 

“The current pandemic has created circumstances where additional work needs to be done before the accounts are approved, providing an additional level of assurance for the organisation and stakeholders that the impact of the pandemic on the organisation has been fully examined and can be explained to members. That work is taking longer than anticipated.

Ensuring that members are informed about the effect of the pandemic on the organisation and our sport more generally, and in particular, have sufficient time to consider the financial statements and ask questions about them, is a priority for the Council and Board.

It is therefore proposed that a financial presentation will be given to members at Stage 2 of the AGM, with more detailed financial information following shortly thereafter.

Following discussion, and with the support of the Scottish Rugby Council, Stage 2 of the resumed AGM on 26 November will therefore focus on club and domestic rugby issues, including the motions submitted by clubs, presentation of the preliminary results for the 19/20 financial year, and commentary on the organisation’s response to the pandemic and its impact on the current 20/21 year.

The Annual General Meeting will then be adjourned, to enable the Special General Meeting to be held in respect of Biggar RFC’s motion.

The formal laying of financial statements will take place later in December, allowing stakeholders adequate time in advance to study the accounts and submit questions ahead of that resumed meeting.”

Perhaps we had too-great expectations of President Ian Barr and the new brooms on the Council, but, today, they really need to get together and force TCD and the minions to make them available. Because, that statement was pure pish.

I don't expect, even though Covid will have only minimal impact on the delayed figures, the accounts to make easy reading. Difficult questions will, I believe, need to be answered, but, I am also certain the 2019-20 accounts will look wonderful, compared to what we can expect when the 2020-21 figures come out. So, they may as well reveal the bad news, if only to prepare us for the even-worse news in a year or so's time.

They had the perfect opportunity on Friday, with Scotland nursing a national headache after the drama of Thursday night in Belgrade. Between that and the diversion of this afternoon's match in Florence, yesterday was the perfect day on which to bury bad news, but, even when it was to their advantage, the stumblebums on The Junta couldn't take it.

For Fuck Sake, even Ollie McBurnie took his chance when he scored with his penalty. Will David Marshall be the SRU's next big-name signing? Methinks the Junta is going to need someone to save their jerseys when this accounts shite does finally hit the fan.

To return to old Euripides. Given the justifiable ill will towards them from a goodly percentage of the membership; given the way we have had calamities following disasters following mistakes since Russellgate 1, you would think The Junta might have been trying a wee bit harder to get things right.

But, no, it seems not, like Ole Blue Eyes himself, TCD just seems to keep doing things His Way, and the faithful elves follow him.

Aye, Euripides did indeed have a point; since, not even appearing to try to placate an angry membership is a sure sign of madness.

Finally, during Armistice Week, SRU Past President Ed Crozier posted on Facebook, a wee clip from the finale of that wonderful play The Big Picnic, which he helped produce. It was the full cast, singing Horatius Bonar's and Ira D Sankey's marvellous hymn Only Remembered. I defy any Scot not to shed a tear when he or she watches that.

I fear, when TCD, Howzat and some others in The Junta are finally shown the Murrayfield door, they will only be remembered for the wrongs they did to Scottish Rugby.